AndyC Guest 0 post 28-Jun-2007 4:11 AM

Kim Dockery on target in Bangor's 4-0 cup win Bangor march into Cup Semi's Crumlin United 0, Bangor Ladies 4 Bangor Ladies, the ladies section of Bangor Football Club, progressed into the semi finals of the Intermediate B divisional cup last night (4th) with a comfortable 4-0 win away to Crumlin United Ladies. Although Crumlin are currently sitting at the bottom of the division and on paper Bangor Ladies should start this one as favourites - this was cup football and from an earlier round Newtownabbey Ladies had been unexpectedly turned over - it was a game which still had to be put away. The pitch at the Crumlin venue was in superb condition, whether due to the unseasonal persistent rainfall or the persistent groundsman, it was a faultless surface and one which welcomed the passing game of the visiting Seasiders. The game plan in this one was to send the team out to use both the surface, size of the arena but most importantly the controlling of the ball by possession. It’s a basic rule in football by keeping the ball you control the pace of the game and this tactic seem to settle the Seasiders, whose last visit to the Antrim village was a nervous 3-2 win at the end of May, courtesy of a Dee Savage hat-trick. With things kept simple, in would be up to the striker partnership up front of Savage and Boyd to produce the goods in the final third. An early breakthrough made things more comfortable as Duncan broke down the right hand side and cleverly drew the keeper out of position before finding the left hand corner of the net to put Bangor 1-0 up. Boyd immediately doubled that advantage just a matter of minutes later, Savage putting the youngster through who finished clinically, only for the referee to call it offside. With this good start Bangor were able to build and use the ball well at times, McNamara and Scott out wide finding room to attack the full backs, the visitors should have really put the game to bed in the first 20 minutes with chances being squandered in front of goal. With the Seasiders in total control albeit for a odd flurry of activity in their own half the second goal duly arrived, again from some good work in midfield, a combination up front and this time Jenny Boyd arriving, on side at the back post, to sweep the ball in for her first strike of the season to make it 2-0. Christina McNamara was running riot down the right hand side with Trish Webb and Cathy Duncan supplying the lively winger with plenty of opportunities to escape the attention of the left back, get behind the defence and put in some good crosses. A third on the half hour mark was no more than the visitors deserved, with Dockery arriving on to the ball, from 25 yards out, she drove a superb shot which the Crumlin No. 1 could only get a fingertip to, as the ball ripped through her grasp into the net 3-0. Duncan on target with a double in cup win The last ten minutes of a seemingly endless first half saw the only scrappy play from Bangor who for some reason, despite being 3-0 and comfortable, allowed themselves to be dragged down to the level of the home side. One bright spark in this dull spell for the Seasiders, as Savage who had rattled in a hat-trick in the last encounter between these two and who is on a rich vein of form of late, hit a fierce drive which produced the save of the game. However the half-time whistle, when it did eventually sound was a welcome break for manager Craig who was able to settle his troops and send them back out with the original game plan at the restart. The second half was really a case of how many chances could Bangor convert as Duncan and McKibbin in the middle of the park dominated and it was difficult for Crumlin to break out for long spells, in fact Mahood in goals was reduced to a virtual spectator, bar one effort late on, which was neatly dealt with. Morrison looked more controlled and relaxed in the centre of the defence and produced some of her most decisive play of the season, doing the simple things well and also changing the angle of attack with some clever footwork. Webb, edging to get forward, produced a good solo run, as the Seasiders enjoyed the width of the arena with Scott, McNamara, Savage, Boyd and McKibbin all having chances to increase the lead but it was just one of those nights where despite peppering the Crumlin goal, nothing would go in. Carolyn Scott working overtime on corner kicks A goal finally arrived, on the hour, Morrison squared to Graham at the back, the left back worked the ball up the line where Scott turned the defender and gave a weighted pass to Duncan who burst down the left, cut inside and hammered in with her right to make it 4-0 and although this threatened to open the floodgates, Bangor’s didn’t manage to add another score. A succession of corners, almost as long as the first half, saw the tireless Scott put delivery after delivery into the danger area, with someone just needing to attack the ball to add to the scoreline. Albeit from the want of trying, with possibly the best move to game saw some nice clever inter passing play as Duncan carved through the Crumlin defence and was only thwarted by a keeper who somehow managed to get something on the ball and send it for another corner. A lot of goalmouth action as Bangor Ladies go through To be honest if the Seasiders had converted just a fraction of the chances being created then the scoreline would have recorded a far more favourable result - however whether the final score was 4, 5 or 15 nil - is not important - the most important fact is that Bangor Ladies survived what could have been a tricky fixture and advance through to the semi finals scheduled to be played the week beginning Monday, 30th July. SNIPPETS The Club Mid Summers Dinner will go ahead this Friday evening (29th) at Carnlea Golf Club - all members of the club are welcome, you will be expected to take your seats by 6.45 p.m. The dress code does allow for denim, to keep everyone punctual. Tina Sharpe is recovering well after surgery on her damaged knee - finally off the crutches, she hopes to be back fully recovered for the start of next season. The game against Dungoyne Ladies, which was postponed from May 21st will now take place on Thursday, 23rd August, as Bangor Ladies try and work through the back log of fixtures. Team Pld W D L F A Pts Newtownabbey Strikers 10 9 0 1 81 4 27 Ards Raiders 8 7 1 0 37 4 22 Saint Matthews 9 6 1 2 38 18 19 Knockbreada 10 3 2 5 17 32 11 Bangor Ladies 6 3 1 2 14 20 10 Dungoyne Ladies 9 2 4 3 19 23 10 PSNI Ladies 7 2 3 2 28 17 9 Newtownabbey Ladies 7 2 2 3 22 26 8 Wellington Rec. 8 1 1 6 7 37 4 Crumlin Ladies 10 0 0 10 5 83 0 Trish Webb linked up well with a good first half performance Last Edited on 29-Jun-2007 1:00 AM